Triggering of intraoral X-ray sensor using pixel array sub-sampling

摘要

Automatic triggering of an intraoral x-ray sensor used in a dental x-ray imaging system. The intraoral sensor has an array of pixels. The array of pixels has a plurality of lines of pixels, and each of the pixels generates an electrical signal correlated to x-ray radiation that impinges that pixel. An electronic control unit is connected to the intraoral sensor to receive electric signals from the array of pixels. The electronic control unit destructively reads pixel clusters in one or more of the plurality of lines of pixels. The electronic control unit is configured to generate a dose-correlated signal based on the signals from each of the pixel clusters in each of the one or more lines of pixels and initiate capture of an image generated with information from each of the pixels in the array of pixels, when the combined signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

主权项

1. An intraoral x-ray system comprising:
an array of pixels, wherein each pixel generates an electrical signal correlated to x-ray radiation that impinges that pixel; wherein the array of pixels includes a plurality of pixel clusters including at least a first cluster, a second cluster spaced at a first distance from the first cluster, a third cluster spaced at approximately the first distance from the second cluster, and a fourth cluster spaced at approximately the first distance from the third cluster; a processor in communication with the array of pixels; and cluster select lines that are selectively enabled to couple the processor to the first cluster, the second cluster, the third cluster, and the fourth cluster to enable the processor to
read the first cluster, the second cluster, the third cluster, and the fourth cluster, anddetermine an amount of electrical signal generated by each of the first cluster, the second cluster, the third cluster, and the fourth cluster when read, wherein the processor reads each pixel of the array of pixels that is exposed to radiation, when the processor determines at least one of the amounts of electrical signal generated crosses a threshold; and wherein the processor destructively reads the first cluster, the second cluster, the third cluster, and the fourth cluster one-at-a-time.